U.S. patent application number 12/899411 was filed with the patent office on 2012-04-12 for method and system for transitioning media output among two or more devices.
This patent application is currently assigned to MOTOROLA, INC.. Invention is credited to Poornima Lalwaney.
Application Number | 20120087634 12/899411 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44883393 |
Filed Date | 2012-04-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120087634 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lalwaney; Poornima |
April 12, 2012 |
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSITIONING MEDIA OUTPUT AMONG TWO OR MORE
DEVICES
Abstract
In at least some embodiments, the present invention relates to
methods and systems for enabling media content to be utilized or
output by way of media presentation devices. In one such
embodiment, a method includes receiving at a first cloud a first
signal from a first media presentation device indicative of a
request or command that a content signal transmission be paused,
and sending a second signal including bookmark information from the
first cloud to a second media presentation device. The method
further includes receiving a third signal from the second media
presentation device, the third signal being indicative of a further
request or command that the transmission of the media content
signal be resumed, and resuming the transmission. In additional
embodiments, the present invention relates to methods of operating
a media presentation device so as to perform a resumed displaying
of video media content.
Inventors: |
Lalwaney; Poornima; (San
Diego, CA) |
Assignee: |
MOTOROLA, INC.
Schaumburg
IL
|
Family ID: |
44883393 |
Appl. No.: |
12/899411 |
Filed: |
October 6, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
386/241 ;
386/E5.003; 709/232 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 67/10 20130101;
H04L 65/1093 20130101; H04L 65/4084 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
386/241 ;
709/232; 386/E05.003 |
International
Class: |
H04N 9/80 20060101
H04N009/80; G06F 15/16 20060101 G06F015/16 |
Claims
1. A method of enabling media content to be utilized by way of a
plurality of media presentation devices including a first media
presentation device and a second media presentation device, the
method comprising: receiving at a first cloud a first signal from
the first media presentation device indicative of a request or
command that a transmission of a media content signal by at least
one cloud be paused, the at least one cloud including the first
cloud; sending a second signal from the first cloud to the second
media presentation device, the second signal including bookmark
information indicative of a location within the media content at
which the media content signal has been paused; receiving a third
signal from the second media presentation device, the third signal
being indicative of a further request or command that the
transmission of the media content signal from the at least one
cloud be resumed; and resuming the transmission of the media
content signal from the at least one cloud, wherein the resumed
transmission is received by the second media presentation device,
and wherein the media content signal provides a portion of the
media content beginning at or substantially at the location
indicated by the bookmark information.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending of the second signal
is achieved by a push action taken by the first cloud.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: registering each of
the media presentation devices with the at least one cloud.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein during the registering of the
media presentation devices, at least some information is provided
to the at least one cloud regarding video processing capabilities
of the media presentation devices.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein each of the media presentation
devices is associated with a single user, and wherein the
registering further includes registering at least one additional
media presentation device with the at least one cloud.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one cloud includes
the first cloud and a second cloud, and further comprising: sending
an additional signal based at least in part upon the received first
signal to the second cloud.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second cloud in response to
receiving the additional signal causes the transmission of the
media content signal to be paused, wherein the first cloud performs
registration and signaling operations, and the second cloud
performs transport and delivery operations.
8. The method of claim 6, further comprising: sending a further
signal based at least in part upon the received third signal to the
second cloud, wherein in response thereto the second cloud causes
the resuming of the transmission of the media content signal.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein an adaptive transcoder portion of
the second cloud processes the media content signal before the
media content signal is transmitted.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the media content signal is
processed by the second cloud so that the media content signal is
suitable for use by one or more of a plurality of media
presentation devices, the plurality of media presentation devices
including the first and second media presentation devices
11. The method of claim 6, wherein the second cloud determines a
source of the media content before transmitting the media content
signal, the source including one or more of (a) a memory device
associated with the at least one cloud, and (b) an external media
content source with which the second cloud is in communication.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first cloud includes either
a single server or a plurality of servers in communication with one
another.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first cloud includes the
single server, and the single server is a web server.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content includes one
or more of video media content, audio media content, and graphics
content including presentation information, and wherein each of the
media presentation devices is either a mobile device or a
stationary device.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content is video media
content that originated at a second cloud or at a video content
provider, and further comprising: modifying, at the second cloud,
at least one aspect of formatting of the video media content so
that the video media content is formatted in accordance with at
least one characteristic or capability of the second media
presentation device so as to be suitable for use thereby.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first signal also includes
the bookmark information, wherein the bookmark information includes
one or more of video content source identifier information, a NPT
time value, another form of time stamp, a frame/block ID, another
indicator of a position within a video stream, an asset ID, a user
identifier, and a link to a thumbnail of content ID, and wherein
the third signal includes preference information.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal additionally
includes video catalogue information, and wherein the media content
signal provides the portion of media content in a streamed
manner.
18. A method of operating a media presentation device so as to
perform a resumed displaying of video media content subsequent to a
pausing of a previous displaying of the video media content, the
method comprising: sending a first signal to a first cloud by which
the media presentation device is registered with the first cloud;
receiving a second signal from the first cloud at the media
presentation device, the second signal including bookmark
information indicative of a location within the video media content
at which the pausing occurred; sending a third signal from the
media presentation device, the third signal being indicative of a
request or command to begin the resumed displaying or being
configured to precipitate a transmission of at least a first
portion of the video media content so as to allow for the resumed
displaying; receiving at the media presentation device the first
portion of the video media content; and performing the resumed
displaying of the video media content based at least in part upon
the received first portion of the video media content, the resumed
displaying beginning at or substantially at the location.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: updating a video
catalogue or program guide stored at the media presentation device
after receiving the second signal based upon at least some of the
bookmark information included in the second signal.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the second signal received by
the media presentation device is a push signal.
21. The method of claim 18, wherein the media presentation device
is a mobile device, wherein the third signal communicates one or
more of a preference corresponding to a display of the mobile
device, at least one video processing capability of the mobile
device, a battery life remaining at the mobile device, and a
physical location of the mobile device, and wherein the mobile
device is associated with a user who is also associated with
another device at which the pausing of the previous displaying
occurred.
22. The method of claim 18, wherein the media presentation device
is one of a cellular telephone, a smart phone, a personal digital
assistant, a laptop computer, an in-car gaming/video console IP
client, an internet connected gaming device, a personal media
player, a digital video recorder (DVR), a personal computer, a
tablet device, a netbook, a in-home device with a video capable
screen connected with an IP set top box, a personal DVR player, a
navigation device with a video capable screen, a multimedia docking
station, an in-home digital media display system, a video wall, an
e-book, an e-reader, a network connected television, or a
three-dimensional television set (3D-TV).
23. A system for enabling media content to be output by way of a
plurality of media presentation devices, the system comprising: a
first cloud having a first processing device and a first memory
device, the first cloud storing registration information received
from the plurality of media presentation devices; and a second
cloud in communication with the first cloud, the second cloud
having a second memory device and a second processing device
including an adaptive transcoder; wherein the first cloud serves as
a first intermediary between the second cloud and the plurality of
media presentation devices, and the second cloud serves as a second
intermediary between the first cloud and a plurality of media
content sources, wherein the first cloud is configured to operate
so that, upon receiving a pause signal from a first of the media
presentation devices including bookmark information indicating a
location within the media content at which an outputting of the
media content has been paused, the first cloud sends the bookmark
information for receipt by one or more others of the media
presentation devices as well as to the second cloud, and wherein
the first cloud further is configured to operate so that, upon
receiving a resume signal from a second of the media presentation
devices, the first cloud communicates a resume instruction based
upon the resume signal to the second cloud and correspondingly the
second cloud causes a media content signal to be sent for receipt
by the second media presentation device, whereby the second media
presentation device is able to output at least a portion of the
media content beginning at our substantially at the location.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein the second cloud is configured
to process incoming media content signals from the media content
sources and configure the incoming media content signals so as to
be suitable for the respective media presentation devices.
25. The system of claim 23, wherein each of the clouds is a web
server, wherein the first cloud receives registration information
from each of the media presentation devices, wherein the first
cloud receives and manages user preference information from the
media presentation devices, and wherein the first cloud processes
the pause and resume signals, respectively, prior to providing
respectively the bookmark information and resume instruction to the
second cloud.
26. The system of claim 23, wherein the media content signal is
configured either to be directly communicated from the second cloud
for receipt by the second media presentation device, or to be
indirectly communicated from the second cloud via the first cloud
for receipt by the second media presentation device; and wherein
the media content signal is configured either for unicast
communication with the second media presentation device or for
multicast communication with a plurality of media presentation
devices including the second media presentation device.
27. The system of claim 26, wherein the media content signal is
configured to be indirectly communicated via the first cloud, and
wherein the media content signal is a real-time streamed video
content signal with at least some enhanced experience content
including one or more of an advertisement, a social networking
status update, a friend comment, a rating on a video stream, and
another enhanced service integrating video content with social
networking information.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to mobile devices and other
devices that display, output, or otherwise facilitate a user's
consumption of, media content.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] An important function of mobile devices as well as other
devices (such as personal computers, video game consoles,
televisions, etc.) is to display, output and/or otherwise
facilitate a user's consumption of a variety of media. As such,
these mobile and other devices can collectively be thought of as
"media presentation devices". A variety of technologies have been
developed that allow for or facilitate the transmission and
consumption of such media, including for example video streaming
content delivery technologies.
[0003] It is not uncommon for a person who is interested in
watching or otherwise consuming media content by way of a media
presentation device to move among different locations or otherwise
undergo changes in circumstance where it is not possible to
continue watching (or otherwise experiencing/interacting with) that
media content by way of that same media presentation device.
Commonly, when this occurs, the person will experience an
undesirable interruption in his or her observation or other
consumption of the media.
[0004] For example, a person may move from a first room in the
person's home, at which a personal computer is available for the
person to watch certain media, to a second room in the person's
home, where a television set (but not the computer) is present.
Also for example, even if a person remains within the same room of
a house, the person may face a situation where an original media
presentation device such as a television set is no longer available
for presentation of the media content of interest, even though
another media presentation device in that room could still
theoretically be utilized to present the media content (for
example, because another person has entered the room who needs to
watch other media content on the original media presentation
device).
[0005] There already do exist some systems that make it possible
for particular media content of interest to be displayed (or
otherwise output or utilized) at multiple locations and even
potentially switched from one location to another. For example, a
television program delivered via cable into a home can potentially
be displayed by multiple televisions in multiple rooms and even
switched from being displayed in one room to being displayed in
another room, particularly if multiple cable television signal
processing boxes are present in the different rooms and are
coordinated appropriately.
[0006] However, such existing systems tend to be limited in their
capabilities and often operate in accordance only with special
in-home protocols or proprietary standards determined by the media
content providers (e.g., the cable television provider). More
particularly, many such existing systems are not adequate for
allowing arbitrary media content to be provided to and shifted
among a variety of different types of media presentation devices,
much less shifted among different media presentation devices in a
manner that minimizes interruption. In some circumstances, deep
integration between the media presentation devices and program
guide applications are required, which particularly restricts the
ability to shift media among various types of media presentation
devices.
[0007] More particularly in this regard, there currently exists a
three-screen pause and pick up video system that is defined in
standards as an IP multi-media subsystem (IMS). IMS, although
standards based, requires deployment of customized and expensive
infrastructure to support such services.
[0008] It would therefore be advantageous if an improved system and
method for operating media presentation devices that would
alleviate one or more of the above-discussed problems could be
developed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In at least one embodiment, the present invention relates to
a method of enabling media content to be utilized by way of a
plurality of media presentation devices including a first media
presentation device and a second media presentation device. The
method includes receiving at a first cloud a first signal from the
first media presentation device indicative of a request or command
that a transmission of a media content signal by at least one cloud
be paused, the at least one cloud including the first cloud, and
sending a second signal from the first cloud to the second media
presentation device, the second signal including bookmark
information indicative of a location within the media content at
which the media content signal has been paused. The method further
includes receiving a third signal from the second media
presentation device, the third signal being indicative of a further
request or command that the transmission of the media content
signal from the at least one cloud be resumed, and resuming the
transmission of the media content signal from the at least one
cloud, where the resumed transmission is received by the second
media presentation device, and wherein the media content signal
provides a portion of the media content beginning at or
substantially at the location indicated by the bookmark
information.
[0010] Further, in at least one embodiment, the present invention
relates to a method of operating a media presentation device so as
to perform a resumed displaying of video media content subsequent
to a pausing of a previous displaying of the video media content.
The method includes sending a first signal to a first cloud by
which the media presentation device is registered with the first
cloud, and receiving a second signal from the first cloud at the
media presentation device, the second signal including bookmark
information indicative of a location within the video media content
at which the pausing occurred. The method additionally includes
sending a third signal from the media presentation device, the
third signal being indicative of a request or command to begin the
resumed displaying or being configured to precipitate a
transmission of at least a first portion of the video media content
so as to allow for the resumed displaying, receiving at the media
presentation device the first portion of the video media content,
and performing the resumed displaying of the video media content
based at least in part upon the received first portion of the video
media content, the resumed displaying beginning at or substantially
at the location.
[0011] Additionally, in at least one embodiment, the present
invention relates to a system for enabling media content to be
output by way of a plurality of media presentation devices. The
system includes a first cloud having a first processing device and
a first memory device, the first cloud storing registration
information received from the plurality of media presentation
devices. The system also includes a second cloud in communication
with the first cloud, the second cloud having a second memory
device and a second processing device including an adaptive
transcoder. The first cloud serves as a first intermediary between
the second cloud and the plurality of media presentation devices,
and the second cloud serves as a second intermediary between the
first cloud and a plurality of media content sources. Additionally,
the first cloud is configured to operate so that, upon receiving a
pause signal from a first of the media presentation devices
including bookmark information indicating a location within the
media content at which an outputting of the media content has been
paused, the first cloud sends the bookmark information for receipt
by one or more others of the media presentation devices as well as
to the second cloud. Also, the first cloud further is configured to
operate so that, upon receiving a resume signal from a second of
the media presentation devices, the first cloud communicates a
resume instruction based upon the resume signal to the second cloud
and correspondingly the second cloud causes a media content signal
to be sent for receipt by the second media presentation device,
whereby the second media presentation device is able to output at
least a portion of the media content beginning at our substantially
at the location.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example communications
system involving a plurality of media presentation devices in
communication with a plurality of media content sources via a pair
of intermediary web servers;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing example components of one
of the media presentation devices of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing example components of one
of the intermediary web servers of FIG. 1; and
[0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing various example steps
of operation of the communication system and particularly the
intermediary web servers and media presentation devices of FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram shows an example media
communications system 100 in a simplified schematic form. As shown,
the media communications system 100 includes in this embodiment
multiple (in this exemplary diagram, five) media presentation
devices 102. Each of the media presentation devices 102 is capable
of receiving media content of one or more types and, in turn,
displaying, outputting or otherwise facilitating a user's
consumption of the media content. To receive the media content,
each of the media presentation devices 102 is capable of
communications with a registration/signaling control cloud ("RSC
cloud") 104, which in turn is capable of communications with a
video transport and delivery cloud ("VTD cloud") 106. The VTD cloud
106 additionally is capable of communicating with, and particularly
capable of receiving media content from, one or more of a plurality
of media content sources 108.
[0017] Each of the VTD cloud 106 and the RSC cloud 104 can be a
server and, in the present embodiment, each of the clouds 104, 106
is a respective web server (e.g., a server that supports internet
protocols or otherwise is capable of interaction with the internet
or World Wide Web). Nevertheless, a cloud not only can be
understood to refer to a single server but also can be understood
to encompass a collection of multiple servers that are in
communication with one another. In at least some such embodiments,
the cloud is a web server cloud having multiple servers that
support Internet technologies for communication between entities.
Further, in some embodiments, the cloud can support asynchronous
push operations in which information is pushed from the cloud (or
from its one or more servers) to a client (or clients) using web
2.0 functionality and beyond (including, for example, further
evolution of such functionality and/or new push functionality).
Additionally, in some embodiments, the cloud is capable of
supporting and creating services and applications for registration,
storing and relaying client capabilities and/or preferences (among
other things).
[0018] More particularly, communications between the media content
sources 108 and the VTD cloud 106 occur by way of one or more
communication links 110, while communications between the VTD cloud
106 and the RSC cloud 104 occur by way of one or more communication
links 112. Additionally, communications between the RSC cloud 104
and one or more of the media presentation devices 102 occur by way
of one or more communications links 114. Although FIG. 1 shows only
one of each of the communication links 110, 112 and 114, it will be
understood that any arbitrary number of communication links can be
present in any given embodiment. Among other things, the
communication link 114 can be understood to be representative of
multiple communication links between the RSC cloud 104 and each of
the media presentation devices 102, while the communication link
110 can be understood to be representative of multiple
communication links between the VTD cloud 106 and each of the media
content sources 108.
[0019] Thus, although in FIG. 1 only one of the media presentation
devices 102 and one of the media content sources 108 are shown to
be in communication with the RSC cloud 104 and the VTD cloud 106,
respectively, it will be understood that depending upon the time or
operational circumstance, any or all of the media presentation
devices 102 and/or any or all of the media content sources 108 can
be in communication with the clouds 104 and 106, respectively. It
should further be noted that, although in the present embodiment
communications between the media content sources 108 and the media
presentation devices 102 largely or entirely occur via the RSC
cloud 104 and the VTD cloud 106, depending upon the embodiment (or
upon the time or operational circumstance) one or more of the media
content sources 108 can directly communicate with one or more of
the media presentation devices 102 by way of one or more direct
communication links 117 (one of which is shown in FIG. 1).
[0020] The media content sources 108 are intended to be
representative of any of a variety of different types of sources or
suppliers that are capable of providing media content of any of a
variety of types. In the present exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1,
the media content sources 108 include first and second content
provider websites (CPWs) 116 and 118, respectively. CPWs can be
understood as encompassing social networking websites (SNWs), news
feeds, video broadcast or other broadcast sources, music and
photograph websites, as well as other types of websites such as
business-to-business (b2b) or business-to-consumer (b2c) websites,
or other interactive websites that allow for the downloading
(and/or uploading, e.g., posting) of various forms of data.
Examples of CPWs include, for example, Facebook.TM., MySpace.TM.,
hi5.TM., Linkedln.TM., and Twitter.TM., youtube.com, hulu.com, as
well as sources of RSS or other news feeds, photograph services
such as Picasa.TM. or Photobucket.TM., and music services such as
LastFM.TM..
[0021] In addition to the CPWs 116, 118, the media content sources
108 also include a further source 120 that can be, for example, any
of a television station with digital media infrastructure (e.g.,
standard-definition television (SDTV), high-definition television
(HDTV), personal digital video recorder (DVR) service,
network-based DVR service, or other video services infrastructure
that is capable of Internet-based communications for signaling and
real-time media transport), a proprietary network, a database, or
another type of source. It should be noted that, in at least some
embodiments, sources of types corresponding to the further source
120 (rather than the CPW(s) 116 and 118), as well as any adaptive
transcoders associated with such types of sources, constitute the
primary sources for content delivery. Further it should be noted
that, while FIG. 1 shows the media content sources 108 as including
the CPWs 116, 118 and further source 120, depending upon the
embodiment, any arbitrary number of media content source(s) can be
providing media content and be in communication with the VTD cloud
106. Further, in at least some embodiments, the media communication
system 100 with its cloud infrastructure provides web 2.0 services,
including for example social networking aggregation services.
[0022] Additionally, just as the media content sources 108 can take
a variety of forms depending upon the embodiment, the media content
provided from those media content sources can take a variety of
forms including, for example, time sequenced live or stored
multimedia content (e.g., videos, music, photos or pictures, line
and/or video on demand (VOD) content, songs, television programs,
text entries, etc.), blog postings, messaging (e.g., short Message
Service (SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), and Instant
Messaging (IM)), news reports, weather, personal, business, and/or
other information and a variety of other types of data. For
example, media content provided by CPWs such as the CPWs 116, 118
can encompass a variety of forms of data, such as videos, pictures,
and songs (which in the case of SNWs can facilitate the creation
and maintaining of interpersonal connections among persons and
groups of persons), as well as personal and/or business information
including, for example, information concerning contacts or friends
such as contacts lists, new friends or updated contacts, special
messages, news, happenings, and other types of information
including possibly files such as image files or text files or other
forms of data.
[0023] It should be noted that, in at least some embodiments, while
the media content can be owned by operators/third parties such as
those associated with the media content sources, distribution of
the media content by the clouds 106, 104 is controlled by the owner
of the clouds.
[0024] As for the media presentation devices 102 shown in FIG. 1,
these are intended to be representative of a variety of different
types of devices that are capable of receiving media content and
displaying, outputting or otherwise facilitating the consumption or
utilization of media content. The media presentation devices 102
generally can be understood to encompass, for example, one or more
of each of stationary devices (such as televisions and media
consoles with set top boxes capable of consuming digital content)
as well as mobile devices. In many embodiments, the media
presentation devices 102 generally encompass a number of in-home
media consumption/generation devices.
[0025] In the present embodiment, the media presentation devices
102 are particularly shown to include two stationary devices,
namely, a television having an internet protocol (IP) set top box
124 and a personal computer 126, and additionally first, second,
and third mobile devices 128, 130, and 132, which respectively are
a smartphone or personal digital assistant (PDA), an in-car
gaming/video console IP client, and an internet connected gaming
device. Notwithstanding the particular stationary devices 124 and
126 shown in FIG. 1, these media presentation devices are intended
to be representative of a variety of different types of stationary
devices that can be present depending upon the embodiment
including, further for example, personal computers, video walls,
in-home digital media display systems, other (that is, other than
televisions) in-home devices with video capable screens connected
via IP set top boxes, etc.
[0026] Likewise, notwithstanding the particular mobile devices 128,
130, 132 shown in FIG. 1, these mobile devices are intended to be
representative of a variety of different types of mobile devices
that can be present depending upon the embodiment such as, for
example, cellular telephones, smart phones, other types of handheld
devices such as other forms of smartphones/personal digital
assistants or (further for example) netbooks, e-readers, e-books,
tablet devices, navigation devices with video capable screens,
multimedia docking stations, PMPs (personal media players), DVRs
(digital video recorders), personal DVR players, internet-connected
gaming devices or other gaming devices (again, for example, some
in-car gaming devices), video console IP client devices, and/or
other devices such as laptop computers or notebook computers,
including such computers that are capable of connecting to and
communicating with a network, as well as network connected
television and three-dimensional television (3D-TV) sets/devices.
It should be understood that, depending upon the embodiment, some
of the aforementioned media presentation devices (e.g., a personal
computer such as the computer 126) and/or other media presentation
devices not mentioned above can be considered mobile device(s)
and/or stationary device(s) depending upon the devices' specific
features, the devices' operational context, or the devices' manner
of use.
[0027] While the media presentation devices 124-132 are
representative of possible media presentation devices, the
particular media presentation devices shown in FIG. 1 are not
intended to be exhaustive of all possible media presentation
devices that can be present depending upon the embodiment. Although
five media presentation devices 124-134 are shown in FIG. 1, in
other embodiments any arbitrary number of media presentation
device(s) can be present, albeit typically at least two different
media presentation device(s) are present so as to allow for
switching from one media presentation device to another media
presentation device (in terms of which device is displaying,
otherwise outputting, or otherwise facilitating consumption of the
media content), as discussed further below. That said, the present
invention also has applicability in at least some embodiments to
circumstances where there is only a single media presentation
device--for example, some embodiments of the present invention
allow for the pausing of media content being provided to a given
media presentation device followed by the subsequent restarting at
a later time the delivery of the media content to that same media
presentation device even if a second media presentation device is
not available for switching. Further, although the media
presentation devices 124-132 include the particular three mobile
devices 128-132 mentioned above, depending upon the embodiment any
arbitrary number of mobile device(s) (including possibly no mobile
devices at all) are present.
[0028] Depending upon the embodiment, the communication links 110,
112, 114 can be part of a single network or multiple networks. Each
of the communication links 110, 112, 114 can include one or more
wired and/or wireless communication pathways, for example, landline
(e.g., fiber optic, copper) wiring, microwave communication, radio
channel, wireless path, intranet, internet, and/or World Wide Web
communication pathways, and which can employ numerous intermediary
hardware and/or software devices such as, for example, one or more
routers, cell towers, access points, other servers or any of a
variety of remote device(s).
[0029] In addition, a variety of communication protocols and
methodologies can be used to conduct the communications via the
communication links 110, 112, 114 between the media presentation
devices 102, media content sources 108, RSC cloud 104 and the VTD
cloud 106, including for example transmission control
protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP), extensible messaging and
presence protocol (XMPP), file transfer protocol (FTP), Real Time
Streaming Protocol (RTSP) and adaptive live streaming mechanisms
such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) live streaming,
Microsoft smooth streaming, and flash streaming (e.g., in
accordance with the Real Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP), RTMP
Tunneled (RTMPT), RTMP Secure (RTMPS) or Encrypted RTMP (RTMPE)),
etc. In the present embodiment, in which the VTD cloud 106 and RSC
cloud 104 are both web servers, all of the links 110, 112, 114
involve web-based communications. Nevertheless, in other
embodiments, other types of communication links for facilitating
the transfer of signals among the media presentation devices 102,
the RSC cloud 104, the VTD cloud 106, and the media content sources
108 are utilized instead of, or in addition to, web-based
communications.
[0030] The operations of the RSC cloud 104 and the VTD cloud 106 as
intermediaries between the media presentation devices 102 and the
media content sources 108 are discussed in further detail below. In
particular, interactions among the media presentation devices 102
and the clouds 104, 106 that allow for a media presentation (or
other utilization) to be switched between different ones of the
media presentation devices depending upon a user's circumstance are
discussed in further detail. Although in the embodiment of FIG. 1
the RSC cloud 104 and the VTD cloud 106 are two distinct web
servers that are in communication with one another, it should also
be noted that in some alternate embodiments the two clouds can be
combined into a single overall device (e.g., a single server or web
server) that performs all of the functions of both clouds. In such
embodiments, the communication link(s) 112 need not be present.
[0031] Although it should be emphasized that the media presentation
devices 102 need not be limited to mobile devices (for example, in
some embodiments one or more of the media presentation devices are
or include stationary devices), as noted above one or more of the
media presentation devices often will be mobile devices. That being
the case, referring to FIG. 2, there is provided a block diagram
illustrating example internal components 200 of a representative
one of the media presentation devices 102 that in this example is a
mobile device such as the smartphone/PDA 128 of FIG. 1. As shown,
the components 200 include one or more wireless transceivers 202
(it being understood that, in some other embodiments, wired
transceivers can also or instead be present), a processor 204
(e.g., a microprocessor, microcomputer, application-specific
integrated circuit, etc.), a memory portion 206, one or more output
devices 208, and one or more input devices 210. In at least some
embodiments, a user interface is present that comprises one or more
of the output devices 208, such as a display, and one or more of
the input devices 210, such as a keypad or touch sensor. The
internal components 200 can further include a component interface
212 to provide a direct connection to auxiliary components or
accessories for additional or enhanced functionality. The internal
components 200 preferably also include a power supply 214, such as
a battery, for providing power to the other internal components
while enabling the mobile device to be portable. All of the
internal components 200 can be coupled to one another, and in
communication with one another, by way of one or more internal
communication links 232 (e.g., an internal bus).
[0032] Each of the wireless transceivers 202 utilizes a wireless
technology for communication, which can include for example (but
are not limited to) cellular-based communication technologies such
as analog communications (using AMPS), digital communications
(using CDMA, TDMA, GSM, iDEN, GPRS, EDGE, etc.), and next
generation broadband communications (using UMTS, WCDMA, LTE, IEEE
802.16, etc.) or variants thereof, or peer-to-peer or ad hoc
communication technologies such as HomeRF (radio frequency),
Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 (a, b, g or n), or other wireless
communication technologies such as infrared technology. In the
present embodiment, the wireless transceivers 202 include a
cellular transceiver 203 and a wireless local area network (WLAN)
transceiver 205, although in other embodiments only one of these
types of wireless transceivers (and possibly neither of these types
of wireless transceivers) is present, and/or one or more other
types of wireless transceivers (e.g., a GPS transceiver, Ethernet
transceiver or other broadband transceiver) is/are present.
[0033] By virtue of the use of the wireless transceivers 202, the
smartphone/PDA 128 (mobile device) is capable of communicating with
the RSC cloud 104 and indirectly with the VTD cloud 106, and thus
also is capable of communicating indirectly with the media content
sources 108. Also, by virtue of the wireless transceiver 202, in
some alternate embodiments the PDA 128 (mobile device) is able to
communicate directly with one or more of the media content sources
108 (e.g., by way of one of the communication links 117). Further
for example, operation of the wireless transceivers 202 in
conjunction with others of the internal components 200 of the
mobile device 102 can take a variety of forms and can include, for
example, operation in which, upon reception of wireless signals,
the internal components detect communication signals and the
transceiver 202 demodulates the communication signals to recover
incoming information, such as voice and/or data, transmitted by the
wireless signals. After receiving the incoming information from the
transceiver 202, the processor 204 formats the incoming information
for the one or more output devices 208.
[0034] Likewise, for transmission of wireless signals, the
processor 204 formats outgoing information, which may or may not be
activated by the input devices 210, and conveys the outgoing
information to one or more of the wireless transceivers 202 for
modulation to communication signals. The wireless transceiver(s)
202 convey the modulated signals by way of wireless and (possibly
wired as well) communication links to other devices such as the RSC
cloud 104 and the VTD cloud 106. Thus signals can be provided also
indirectly to one or more of the media content sources 108 (as well
as directly, in the event communication links such as the
communication link 117 are employed). In at least some embodiments,
signals from the wireless transceiver 202 are communicated to the
RSC and VTD clouds 104, 106 (and media content sources 108) by way
of additional intermediate devices such as a cell tower, access
point, or another server or any of a variety of remote device(s),
which as discussed above can be considered part of the
communication links 110, 112, 114.
[0035] Depending upon the embodiment, the input and output devices
208, 210 of the internal components 200 can include a variety of
visual, audio and/or mechanical outputs. For example, the output
device(s) 208 can include one or more visual output devices 216
such as a liquid crystal display and light emitting diode
indicator, one or more audio output devices 218 such as a speaker,
alarm and/or buzzer, and/or one or more mechanical output devices
220 such as a vibrating mechanism. The visual output devices 216
among other things can include a video screen. Likewise, by
example, the input device(s) 210 can include one or more visual
input devices 222 such as an optical sensor (for example, a
camera), one or more audio input devices 224 such as a microphone,
and one or more mechanical input devices 226 such as a flip sensor,
keyboard, keypad, selection button, navigation cluster, touch pad,
touchscreen, capacitive sensor, motion sensor, and switch. Actions
that can actuate one or more of the input devices 210 can include
not only the physical pressing/actuation of buttons or other
actuators, but can also include, for example, opening the mobile
device, unlocking the device, moving the device to actuate a
motion, moving the device to actuate a location positioning system,
and operating the device.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, the internal components 200 of the PDA
128 (mobile device) also can include one or more of various types
of sensors 228. The sensors 228 can include, for example, proximity
sensors (a light detecting sensor, an ultrasound transceiver or an
infrared transceiver), touch sensors, altitude sensors, or a
location circuit that can include, for example, a Global
Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a triangulation receiver, an
accelerometer, a tilt sensor, a gyroscope, or any other information
collecting device that can identify a current location or
user-device interface (carry mode) of the PDA 128.
[0037] The memory portion 206 of the internal components 200 can
encompass one or more memory devices of any of a variety of forms
(e.g., read-only memory, random access memory, static random access
memory, dynamic random access memory, etc.), and can be used by the
processor 204 to store and retrieve data. The data that is stored
by the memory portion 206 can include, but need not be limited to,
operating systems, applications, and informational data. Each
operating system includes executable code that controls basic
functions of the communication device, such as interaction among
the various components included among the internal components 200,
communication with external devices via the wireless transceivers
202 and/or the component interface 212, and storage and retrieval
of applications and data, to and from the memory portion 206. Each
application includes executable code that utilizes an operating
system to provide more specific functionality for the communication
devices, such as file system service and handling of protected and
unprotected data stored in the memory portion 206. Informational
data is non-executable code or information that can be referenced
and/or manipulated by an operating system or application for
performing functions of the communication device.
[0038] As noted above, in the present embodiment, each of the RSC
cloud 104 and the VTD cloud 106 is a web server. Referring next to
FIG. 3, example components of a web server 300, which can serve as
each of the RSC cloud 104 and the VTD cloud 106, are shown in a
figurative manner. As shown, the web server 300 includes a memory
portion 302 and a processor portion 304 in communication with that
memory portion, and one or more input/output (I/O) interfaces 306
that allow the web server 300 to communicate with other external
devices by way of appropriate ones of the communication links 110,
112 and 114 (e.g., the communication links 112 and 114 in the case
of the RSC cloud 104, the communication links 110 and 112 in the
case of the VTD cloud 106). As noted above, in some alternate
embodiments, the RSC and VTD clouds 104, 106 can be combined into a
single device and, in some such embodiments, a single one of the
web server 300 could provide the functionality afforded by the both
of the clouds 104, 106 (in such embodiments, the web server would
communicate with other external devices by way of the communication
links 110 and 114).
[0039] Turning to FIG. 4, portions 400 of the communication system
100 of FIG. 1 are shown in another schematic manner so as to
illustrate exemplary interactions among, and operations of, several
of the components of the communications system. In particular, FIG.
4 shows the VTD cloud 106 as well as the RSC cloud 104 along with
the five media presentation devices 124-132 in communication with
one another (albeit the communication links 114 and 112 are not
expressly shown). An arrow 402 pointing towards the VTD cloud 106
is indicative of the fact that the cloud 106 is capable of
receiving various types of media content from media content sources
such as (but not limited to) the media content sources 108 of FIG.
1, although those sources are not explicitly shown in FIG. 4. As
noted above, the media content received by the VTD cloud 106 can
take a variety of forms.
[0040] As illustrated generally by FIG. 4, the VTD cloud 106 is
where the video content or other media content is served from for
use by the media presentation devices 124-132. The content can
physically reside at the VTD cloud 106 upon being received from the
media content sources, particularly for example within the memory
302 of the web server 300 acting as the VTD cloud (or another
component of the web server, such as an encoder), or alternatively
the VTD cloud 106 simply serves as a pass-through intermediary
allowing for or facilitating communications between the media
content sources and the media presentation devices. The VTD cloud
106 performs functions that are appropriate for allowing the
serving of the media content including, for example, reformatting
functions, transcoding functions, and streaming functions. The VTD
cloud 106 also serves the media content based on the needs of the
media presentation devices 124-132 as communicated from those
devices, potentially by way of the RSC cloud 104.
[0041] By comparison, the RSC cloud 104 aggregates and
appropriately processes and uses information from the media
presentation devices 124-132, including preferences associated with
those devices, and also information regarding signals provided,from
the media presentation devices as to what types of functions are
desired (e.g., pausing of a video, pick up, fast forward, or
rewind). The RSC cloud 104 also communicates specific connections
with the VTD cloud 106 and thereby serves as an intermediary
between the media presentation devices 124-132 and the VTD cloud
106. Bids of the media presentation devices 124-132 for media
content as discussed above can also be provided to the VTD cloud
106 by way of the RSC cloud 104. As discussed in further detail
below, session control (e.g., the pausing and resuming of the
displaying of video media content) and related bookmark metadata
management can be performed by way of web 2.0 services and an
appropriate push mechanism from the RSC cloud 104.
[0042] Separation of the VTD cloud 106 from the RSC cloud 104 as is
provided in the embodiment of FIG. 4 can be valuable in at least
some embodiments insofar as, given such an arrangement, the video
transport functions can exist outside of the signaling cloud
functions. For example, currently updates from various SNWs such as
Facebook or Twitter (or email) are provided directly from those
media content sources 108. The RSC cloud 104 in turn aggregates
status updates and other feeds/signaling associated with SNWs. With
such an arrangement, among other things, an enhanced video or
integrated video experience can be provided to consumer(s) using
the media presentation devices by using bookmark metadata
information (as discussed further below). Such an enhanced video
experience can include not only video content but also include or
be combined with social networking aggregation functionality such
as, for example, advertisements, social networking status updates,
friends' comments including comments and/or ratings on specific
video streams, online polling features to present relevant
information to a user, and a variety of other enhanced services
that integrate video content with relevant social networking
information aggregated by and provided from the RSC cloud 104.
[0043] Notwithstanding the above-described operational benefits
that can be achieved by utilizing two distinct clouds such as the
VTD cloud 106 and RSC cloud 104, in some alternate embodiments the
functionality performed by the VTD cloud 106 and RSC cloud 104 can
be performed by a single cloud (or web server or other computer).
Further, it should also be understood that (regardless of whether
two clouds or a single cloud are employed), depending upon the
embodiment or circumstance video delivery to media presentation
device(s) can be by way of one-on-one unicast communication or
one-to-many multicast communication. One-to-many multicast
communication is appropriate, for example, where the media content
(e.g., after "resuming" the providing of that content) is to be
simultaneously consumed on multiple ones of the media presentation
devices 102.
[0044] FIG. 4 further illustrates exemplary steps of operation of
the portions 400 of the communications system 100. More
particularly, these steps allow for a user to cause media content
(in this case, video media content) being displayed by one of the
media presentation devices 124-132 to be paused and switched so as
to be displayed on another one of the media presentation devices
determined by that user, such that the user can experience the
media content without interruption (or with only minimal
interruption, e.g., interruption due to the physical movement of
the user from one location to another location). As shown in FIG.
4, the process begins at a first step (step one) represented by a
box 403, during which takes place the registration of all of the
media presentation devices 124-132 that are associated with the
user with the RSC cloud 104. Although the first step is represented
figuratively by the box 403 for simplicity, it should be understood
that the performance of this step involves communications from the
media presentation devices 124-132 to the RSC cloud 104 allowing
for various registration information to be provided to the RSC
cloud 104. In at least some embodiments, such registration
communications are provided in accordance with HTTP or the session
initiation protocol (SIP).
[0045] Such registration information can include any of a variety
of different types of information including, for example, user
name, account name, video codecs supported information, device
capabilities information (e.g., resolution information pertaining
to the device display or other video processing capabilities
information) and/or other video consumption preferences associated
with each media presentation device. In some embodiments, the
registration step 403 (step 1) is precipitated by each of the media
presentation devices 124-132, for example, when those devices first
are turned on or enter into communications with the RSC cloud 104.
Also, in some embodiments, the registration step 403 can occur in
response to a manual command provided by a user to the respective
media presentation device. Further, in at least some embodiments,
by virtue of receiving the registration information during the
first step, the RSC cloud 104 can thereafter manage each user's
registration and particularly the media presentation devices (e.g.,
video capable end points) associated with that user through basic
HTTP capability.
[0046] Once a media presentation device such as any or all of the
media presentation devices 124-132 have been registered with the
RSC cloud 104, it is possible for those devices to receive video
signals. For example, the set top box 124 can be assumed to be
receiving and displaying video media content at a time sometime
after the time at which that media presentation device has been
registered with the RSC cloud 104. As represented by an arrow 401,
a media content signal including the video media content (or other
media content) is received by the set top box (media presentation
device) 124 after being sent from the VTD cloud 106, which will
have received that video media content from one or more of the
media content sources 108. As discussed above, the media content
signal (video feed) can be reflective of video information that is
stored at the VTD cloud 106 after having been received at an
earlier time from one or more of the media content sources 108, or
instead can be video media content that is being transmitted at
that time from one or more of the media content sources via the VTD
cloud 106 to the media presentation device 124.
[0047] While FIG. 1 suggests that video media content (or other
media content) proceeds to media presentation devices such as the
media presentation device 124 from the VTD cloud 106 by way of the
RSC cloud 104, that is, by way of the communication links 112 and
114 (that is, after having been passed to the VTD cloud 106 by way
of the communication links 110), this need not always be the case.
Rather, in some alternate embodiments, the video media content need
not pass through the RSC cloud 104 on its way from the VTD cloud
106 to a given one of the media presentation devices such as the
media presentation device 124, but instead can be provided directly
from the VTD cloud 106 to the media presentation device 124. In
such embodiments, it will typically be the case that, after being
registered with the RSC cloud 104, a media presentation device will
be able to receive the video media content directly from the VTD
cloud 106 after the RSC cloud 104 has provided appropriate
information to the VTD cloud 106 allowing for such direct
transmission to occur.
[0048] At some point during the displaying of the video media
content by the media presentation device 124, the user consuming or
observing the video media content determines that circumstances
have changed such that the user can no longer continue to observe
the video media content at that media presentation device, for
example, because the user needs to move to a different location
where it is no longer appropriate to use that media presentation
device or for another reason such as the possibility that that
media presentation device may need to be used for a different
purpose. When the circumstance occurs, the user provides a command
to the media presentation device 124 requesting that the video be
paused. In response, as shown in FIG. 4, the media presentation
device 124 in turn sends a pause/bookmark message to the RSC cloud
104 at a step two (although FIG. 4 does not illustrate the
operation in which the media presentation device 124 receives the
user pause command, such operation can be considered as encompassed
within step two). The pause instruction provided from the media
presentation device 124 to the RSC cloud 104 at the step two, which
is represented by an arrow 404, is received by the RSC cloud 104
particularly at a pause (reflection function) block 405 of the
cloud, which can be considered a portion of the processor 304 of
FIG. 3.
[0049] In at least some embodiments, the pause command provided by
the set top box 124 (or other ones of the media presentation
devices 124-132) includes a video content bookmark in the form of
metadata that is received by the RSC cloud 104. The pause
command/bookmark can be sent by way of a combination of SIP and
HTTP methods. The metadata included in the pause command/bookmark
in turn can include various types of information such as, for
example, video content source identifier information, an
identification of a block of the video stream at which the video
was paused (including but not limited to a NPT time value or other
form of time stamp, a frame/block ID or other indicator of a
position within a video stream, an asset ID, a user identifier, or
a link to a thumbnail of content ID). The pause command
communication to the RSC cloud 104 therefore is significant not
only in that it communicates a request that the video signal be
paused but also identifies a location within the video media
content at which the video is being paused, such that the system
can appropriately restart the video at that location when that
video is being displayed on a different one of the media
presentation devices 124-132.
[0050] Further, in some embodiments, the pause command/bookmark
signal sent during step two includes information specifying the
identity of the media presentation device (or devices) to which the
media content should be provided in the future subsequent to the
bookmark location, that is, the media presentation device (e.g.,
the IP client 130) to which the media content should be switched
after being paused at the present media presentation device (the
set top box 124). This identity information can be specified by a
user who is controlling the media presentation device (again, the
set top box 124) at which the media content is being paused.
[0051] The pause block 405 upon receiving the pause request with
the video content bookmark in turn causes the performing of two
actions shown in FIG. 4 as steps three and four corresponding to
arrows 408 and 406, respectively. In the present embodiment step
three is performed prior to step four albeit, for purposes of
explanation the two steps are described below in reverse order.
With respect to step four in particular, this entails distribution
of the bookmark information to each of the other media presentation
devices 126-132 that are associated with the user (which were
registered during step 1). That is, the bookmark information is
redirected/reflected by the pause block 405 to all the other ones
of the media presentation devices 102 associated with the user
immediately. This function can be achieved particularly by way of
using a push channel mechanism available at the RSC cloud 104.
Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, and represented by several of the arrows
406, the bookmark information is distributed to each of the media
presentation devices 126-132 other than the media presentation
devices 124 at which the video content was already being displayed
and was paused. Consequently, each of the media presentation
devices 126-132 receives information concerning the location within
the video content at which it was paused by the user during display
at the set top box 124.
[0052] It should be noted that FIG. 4 also shows one of the arrows
406 to be directed back to set top box 124, thus indicating that
the bookmark information is returned to that device as well, and
thus allowing for confirmation that the proper bookmark information
was received at the pause block 405 for submission to the media
presentation devices 126-132. Providing of this communication back
to the set top box 124 further makes it possible to resume content
flow to the set top box (that is, resume content flow to the same
media presentation device from which the pause/bookmark request
message originally emanated) at a later time as appropriate.
[0053] The exact content of the bookmark information sent by the
pause block 405 to the media presentation devices 102 can vary
depending upon the embodiment. In some embodiments, as discussed in
further detail below, the bookmark information can include video
catalogue/program guide information. That is, in some embodiments,
the bookmark information can include both the bookmarks of
previously viewed user content along with new available content
that are presented to the user in a combined enhanced program guide
("EPG") that is sent to all of the media presentation devices 102
registered by the user. In some such embodiments, all of this
information is pushed from the RSC cloud 104 to the media
presentation devices 102. That is, the pushing feature can be
important in terms of pushing both media content bookmarks and EPG
to the media presentation (client) devices.
[0054] In addition to the step four, at which the bookmark
information is reflected to each of the media presentation devices
124-132, at the step three the pause request is further
communicated from the RSC cloud 104 to the VTD cloud 106, as
represented by an arrow 408. As shown in FIG. 4, the pause request
transmitted from RSC cloud 104 to the VTD cloud 106 particularly is
received by an adaptive transcoder represented by a block 410,
which can be considered part of the microprocessor 304 of the VTD
cloud 106. As a result of the receipt of the pause request by the
adaptive transcoder at the VTD cloud 106, the VTD cloud ceases
transmitting the media control signal represented by the arrow 401,
and consequently the set top box 124 cease receiving additional
video media content. In alternate embodiments, the media control
signal continues to be transmitted by the VTD cloud 106 regardless
of its receipt of the pause request but, upon the sending of the
pause command at the step two, the set top box 124 stops receiving
that signal or stops utilizing (e.g., displaying) the additional
information being provided by that signal.
[0055] Encompassed within the pause request transmitted from the
RSC cloud 104 to the VTD cloud 106 in step three is bookmark
information including information on device resolutions of all the
registered media presentation devices 124-132. By virtue of
receiving such information, the VTD cloud 106 is able to locate (or
generate) the appropriate video source (e.g., the location of the
appropriate video media content stored in the memory 302 of the VTD
cloud, or possibly an appropriate one of the media content sources
108) corresponding to the video media content that has been paused
and to which the bookmark information pertains. Upon locating the
appropriate video source, the bookmark information (or a portion
thereof) is placed in/stored as part of the video media content
such that the bookmark information can later be accessed when that
video media content is requested by one of the media presentation
devices.
[0056] The adaptive transcoder (block 410) is the portion of the
VTD cloud 106 that is particularly responsible for changing video
code from one format to another (e.g., wide screen to non-wide
screen) to suit a given media presentation (video receiving)
device. In some circumstances, the adaptive transcoder also outputs
video code in multiple formats so that multiple media presentation
devices can receive video media content at the same time (e.g.,
multi-casting). For example, suppose the adaptive transcoder (block
410) receives digital subscriber line (DSL) media content, which is
suitable for certain of the media presentation devices 102 which
accept high resolution video data (e.g., the set top box 124) but
not others that prefer low resolution video data (e.g., the PDA
128). Further supposing that it is the low resolution video data
that is needed (e.g., for use by the PDA 128), the adaptive
transcoder can either process the incoming video signal to generate
the desired low resolution video signal or alternatively obtain the
appropriate low resolution information from a different location
(e.g., a different media content source such as hulu).
[0057] The information transmitted from the RSC cloud 104 to the
adaptive transcoder of the VTD cloud 106 in step three can include,
in some embodiments, not only the contents of the bookmark but also
additional information (which can be referred to as "augmented
bookmark information") such as information regarding active device
preferences (e.g., user preferences) and/or device registration
information. Such augmented bookmark information can be
particularly helpful in allowing the adaptive transcoder (block
410) to perform the functions of getting video streams in the
correct codec and time format. Further, the augmented bookmark
information in at least some circumstances is utilized by the
adaptive transcoder to determine the appropriate source of desired
media content, and/or can be utilized by the adaptive transcoder to
determine whether an "augmented bookmark" set with respect to one
format of video data corresponds to a given location within video
data for the same video asset that is in a different format.
[0058] In some embodiments, the adaptive transcoder can
additionally take into account condition/preference information
regarding the media presentation devices and adjust the format of
the media signal(s) provided to those media presentation device(s)
accordingly. For example, the adaptive transcoder can be informed
about characteristics such as the battery life and resolution
suitable for each given media presentation device, which allows the
adaptive transcoder to make a judgment about what format is
important.
[0059] Additionally, upon receiving the bookmark information during
step four, at a step five each of the media presentation devices
124-132 in turn updates a video catalogue application or program
guide as stored or running on that respective media presentation
device, as represented by further arrows 412. In particular, the
video catalogue application is updated with a listing of the video
asset (e.g., the video media content pertaining to a particular
discrete video or program) to which the bookmark information
pertains, as well as the video bookmark information itself (that
is, where a bookmark has been placed in the video). It should be
understood that the video catalogue application can be, but need
not always be, the same for each of the media presentation devices
associated with a given user. It should further be noted that a
given video asset (or other media asset) can include more than one
bookmark after it has been paused by more than one media
presentation device or paused more than one time.
[0060] In alternate embodiments, the video catalogue application
for each of the media presentation devices 124-132 can be
maintained on an ongoing basis at the RSC cloud 104 and then
provided/sent to each of the media presentation devices when
appropriate. In some such embodiments, the RSC cloud 104 can serve
up video catalogues/program guides using standards-based IP
transport mechanisms supported by the media presentation devices
102. A given video catalogue/program guide is typically sent to all
of the media presentation devices 102 that are registered and
online. Such a program guide downloaded to the media presentation
devices can be referred to as an enhanced program guide ("EPG").
Depending upon the embodiment, an EPG can include various types of
information that is pushed to the media presentation devices
registered by the user. For example, an EPG can include the
bookmarks of previously-viewed media content along with new
available content that are presented to the user. In at least some
embodiments, the pushing capability is particularly significant, in
terms of pushing both media content bookmarks and other EPG
information to media presentation (client) devices.
[0061] Subsequent to the performing of the aforementioned steps
(and particularly the step two at which the pause request was
communicated), the user may wish to cause the displaying of the
video media content to be resumed at a different one of the media
presentation devices 124-132 than the set top box 124--for example,
as shown in FIG. 4, at the IP client 130. Thus, in a step six, upon
the user wanting to resume the video transmission, a command from
the user is provided to the media presentation device (IP client)
130 and consequently a pick up (or resume) signal is provided from
that media presentation device again to a pick up portion 414 of
the processor 304 of the RSC cloud 104, as represented by an arrow
416. It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the user
provides the command to the media presentation device for the
purpose of causing resumption of the media display by first
browsing the EPG with the updated bookmarks (while at the media
presentation device 130) and then, based upon this information,
choosing to resume live, VOD or other media content. The exact form
or content of the pick up signal (represented by the arrow 416)
transmitted at the step six can vary depending upon the embodiment.
While in some embodiments the pick up signal takes the form of a
request or command (e.g., a request or command that displaying of
video media content be resumed), in other embodiments the pick up
signal takes some other form that is configured to precipitate a
transmission of at least some media content (and/or additional
information) so as to allow for a resumption of the media content
transmission that was previously paused, from the location (or
substantially the same location) at which the pausing occurred. In
some cases, the pick up signal (the arrow 416) provided at the step
six includes information such bookmark information (e.g., video
asset name, block and time where content was paused, etc.) and/or
other information such as preference information ("your
preferences").
[0062] Such preference information can include, for example, user
preferences and device preferences such as preferred settings or
operational modes, device resolution, screen size/location,
preferred content source, available memory and loading, preferred
codecs, preferred bit rate information, information regarding
remaining battery life (e.g., when a battery is the only power
source for the media presentation device), or information regarding
the location and/or devices/video sources in the vicinity. Given
that such information is provided to the RSC cloud 104 (and from
there can be further provided to the VTD cloud 106), the RSC cloud
104 and/or VTD cloud 106 can adjust their manners of operation so
as to accommodate such user preferences, device preferences, or
other issues (also, this information can be used as inputs to the
RSC cloud 104/VTD cloud 106 for reserving paused content on
alternative screens/devices). Ultimately, the user's experience at
the media presentation devices 102 can be improved on a variety of
levels including, for example, experiencing extended device
performance (this can be achieved when device battery levels are
taken into account).
[0063] After the pick up portion 414 has received the pick up
signal, at a step seven an additional resume request signal
represented by an arrow 420 is relayed from the pick up block 414
of the RSC cloud 104 to an additional block 418 of the VTD cloud
106. The additional block 418 can be again considered part of the
microprocessor 304 of the VTD cloud 106. Although "augmented
bookmark information" was already discussed above in relation to
step three, it should be understood that in at least some
embodiments it is at the present step seven (rather than, or in
addition to, at the step three) that such augmented bookmark
information is provided to the VTD cloud 106. Thus, a resume
request signal provided at the step seven can include, among other
things, relevant information such as device characteristics, click
user preferences or other preferences (or device registration
information). Among other things, such information is usable by the
VTD cloud 106 for the purpose of serving appropriate video media
content to the IP client 130 at which the user has requested the
video media content be resumed. Also, as already discussed above,
the VTD cloud 106 can use the augmented bookmark information to
locate the source of the paused content, or to reformat data and
plays content from NPT value on reformatted video asset. As already
discussed, the video media content that has been requested (and was
previously paused) can be video media content that is stored on the
VTD cloud 106 or alternatively video media content that is
obtainable from one of the media content sources 108.
[0064] Once the particular video asset that was paused at the media
presentation device 124 and then requested at the media
presentation device 130 has been identified, then at a step eight
the video media content is delivered from the block 418 of the VTD
cloud 106 to the requesting media presentation device (IP client)
130, such that the requesting device picks up the video media
content from the bookmarked point (that is, at or substantially at
the location within the media content at which the earlier pausing
occurred). As represented by the arrow 422, the video media content
can be streamed to the media presentation device 130 from the VTD
cloud 106 by way of the RSC cloud 104 (again, by way of the
communication links 112 and 114), albeit in other embodiments there
can be a separate communication link established between the VTD
cloud 106 and the media presentation device 130 that does not
involve the RSC cloud 104 such that the video media content is sent
directly from the VTD cloud to the media presentation device
without passing through the RSC cloud. Upon receiving the video
media content beginning at the point of the bookmark, the media
presentation device 130 is capable of displaying that video to the
user.
[0065] From the above description, it should be apparent that in at
least some embodiments the media communication system employs the
cloud services framework to enable pause and pick up of media
content (including multi-media content such as streaming video
content) across all eligible media presentation devices (e.g.,
devices with video screens) using the push framework that exists
within the cloud framework. In at least some embodiments,
aggregation functionality provided by the cloud framework
particularly allows for the display of video media content on two,
three or more screens of multiple devices (including the switching
of the displaying from one screen to another). The use of the cloud
framework alleviates the need for excessive complicated network
equipment needed to achieve this experience. Depending upon the
embodiment or circumstance, the cloud framework allows video (or
other) media content to be served to the user (to a given media
presentation device) either from the server (e.g., the VTD cloud)
when the media content is stored there (e.g., for paused or time
delay content) or from the media content source via the server when
the media content should be provided directly to the media
presentation device (e.g., for live content).
[0066] While the above description is intended to be representative
of some embodiments, in other embodiments other or additional
componentry and/or functionality can be provided. For example, in
some other embodiments, the pause command/bookmark information
related to the pausing of video can include, in addition to the
types of information described above (e.g., regarding the point in
a video at which the video was paused and information on the
duration of the program that was already viewed), information
regarding other online sources and value added services (e.g.,
ratings, other related video recommendations, related merchandize,
games, movie soundtracks). All of these different types of
information can be pushed from the RSC cloud to all the user
devices with pause/bookmark metadata.
[0067] Further, it should be noted that, while it is envisioned
that embodiments of the present invention are useful in enhancing
consumers' personal experiences in terms of how consumers are able
to experience media content (for example, in the consumers'
personal homes or automobiles), it is further envisioned that
embodiments of the present invention can also be implemented in a
variety of additional contexts, including commercial, enterprise
(business), or other "non-consumer" contexts. For example,
embodiments of the present invention can be utilized to deliver
medical information in hospital environments or to deliver building
security/monitoring information to security guards (in such
systems, the clouds 104, 106 can be owned by a medical information
company or security company).
[0068] It is specifically intended that the present invention not
be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein,
but include modified forms of those embodiments including portions
of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different
embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *